Handle for mattresses and the like



llnited States Patent lO HANDLE Fon MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Michael Bechik, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Bechik Products, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application March 3, 1955, Serial No. 491,948

2 Claims. (Cl. 5-345) My invention relates to handles for mattresses and the like and is in the nature of an improvement upon or modification of the structure disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 486,076, tiled February 4, 1955 Aand entitled, Handle for Mattresses and the Like.

The primary object of my invention is an improved anchoring means for the opposite ends of the ball chain within the mattress wall.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described wherein the `anchoring means for the balls on the inside of the mattress wall provides a closure means for the grommets through which the opposite ends of the ball chain pass, thereby not only centering the chain with respect to the grommets but also enhancing the over-all appearance of the handle.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which incorporates a minimum of parts, which is inexpensive to produce, and which is strong and durable.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters are indicated by like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a mattress to the side wall of which my novel handle is attached;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of the side wall of the mattress in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation las seen from line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of the `cup-like anchoring socket.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a conventional mattress, the side wall of which is identified by the numeral 2. A ilexible resilient -bar 3, preferably of Ispring steel, is provided with spaced openings 4 one each adjacent its opposite ends. As shown, spaced grommets 5 extend through the wall 2 of the mattress 1 and through the openings 4 on the opposite end portions of the bar 3 4and are suitably crimped on their inner and outer ends as identified by the numerals 6 and 7, respectively, whereby to securely retain the bar 3 in tight engagement with the inner surface 8 of the wall 2.

A conventional ball chain A comprising spaced hollow spheres or balls 9 and longitudinally extended 'connecting pins 10 engages the outer surface 11 of the mattress wall 2 and has its opposite ends extending through the grommets 5. The 'balls 9 on the extreme opposite ends of the chain A are received within cup-like anchoring sockets 12. As shown particularly by reference to Figs. 3 and 5 the anchoring Asockets 12 have circumferentially extended radially outwardly flaring locking flanges 1.3 which overlie the crimped inner end portions 6 of the grommet 5. In this manner the anchoring sockets 12 "ice are received in part within the grommets 5, as shown in Fig. 3, but are precluded from passing therethrough. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 2 land 3 that the bottoms 14 of the anchoring sockets 12 substantially close the opening in the grommets 5 thus adding materially to the appearance of the structure. It will be noted that the 'sockets 12 have axially extended slots 15 in their side walls which connect with openings 16 in the bottoms 14 thereof. Slots 15 and openings 16 are of a transverse width to permit passage therethrough of the longitudinally extended pins 10 of the chain A but prevent passage therethrough of the balls 9.

lt will be noted by reference particularly to Fig. 2 that the length of lthe chain A between the balls 9 received within the anchoring sockets 12 is such as to permit a slight sag -of the chain A along the exterior of the surface 11 of the wall 2. However, it is also important that `the distance vbetween the balls '9 within the cups 12 be such as to prevent removal of the lsockets 12 from the grommets 5 without the flexing vor bowing of the 'back bar 3. These factors not only assure pleasant appearing structure but also positively preclude accidental removal of the lchain S from its operative position wherein the balls 9 on its opposite ends are received within the anchoring `sockets 12. -In order to assemble my novel handle a ball 9 on one end of a 'chain is placed within one of the cup-like anchoring sockets 12 and the chain passed through one of the grommets 5 from the inside of the mattress wall until the Aanchoring socket is in the operative position of Fig. 5; to wit, received in part within said -grommet 5 with the anchoring lip 13 overlying the crimped portion 6 thereof. Thereafter the back bar 3 is -bowed so as to shorten the distance Ibetween the grommets 5, the free end of the chain A is passed through the opposite grommet from the outside of the Wall 2. Finally the 'ball 9 on the extreme -free end of the chain A is caused to be received within -another cup-like lsocket 12 with the connecting pin 10 extending through the opening 16 in the bottom 14 thereof. Permitting the back bar 3 to straighten out will pull the last mentioned `anchoring cup into operative position within the adjacent grommet 5.

My invention has been `thoroughly tested and found to be -completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, it `should be obvious that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim is:

1. In combination with a flexible mattress wall having inner and outer surfaces, a handle comprising an elongated flexible resilient bar disposed in a plane adjacent the inner surface of the wall, said bar having a pair of longitudinally spaced openings, a pair of longitudinally spaced grommets each having an inner portion extending through the mattress wall and through a respective opening in said bar to secure said bar in said plane against the inner surface of the mattress Wall, a substantially non-extensible ex-ible chain including spaced balls connected together by longitudinally extending pins positioned against the outer surface of the mattress wall, means within each grommet detachably secured to the opposite ends of the chain to secure the chain in said position, said means including 'a cup-like socket removably secured in each grommet, each of said sockets hav ing an open end, a bottom and a side wall, the open end of each socket having a circumferentially extending radially outwardly flaring locking flange overlying the inner portion of the respective grommet to prevent outward movement of the socket through the respective grommet, the bottom of each socket substantially closing the respective grommet and having a radially extending opening therein, the side wall `of each socket having a longitudinally extending 'slot therein connected t0 the opening in the bottom for inserting `and removing a bali on the end of the chain into and out of the respective socket, said slots and openings of the sockets being rof a size permitting passage therethrough of the pins but preventing passage therethrough of the balls on the opposite ends yof the chain, the longitudinal `distance between the balls received in the sockets being less than the distance between the open ends of the sockets to prevent removal of the balls from the sockets Without exing of the bar.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said dis- References Cited in the le of this patent UNrTED STATES'PATENTS 1,227,144 Houghton et al May 22, 1917 2,083,361 Bronstein June 8, 1937 2,248,328 Beehick .7 n- July 8, 1941 

